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A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands at 4.19pm and the Ministry of Civil Defence warned it could trigger a tsunami.

However, the Ministry was quick to quash any possibility of a tsunami impacting New Zealand as a result of the earthquake.

NZ Herald graphic

Elsewhere, a series of earthquakes shook parts of the country in the North and South islands.

Geonet recorded four moderate earthquakes hitting between Arthur's Pass in the south and Matawai in the north between 4.21pm and 6.27pm.

New Zealand earthquakes:

• Magnitude 4.4, 50km east of Arthur's Pass at a depth of 30km at 4.21pm.

• Magnitude 4.7, 15km east of Matawai at a depth of 15km at 4.21pm.

• Magnitude 4.8, 15km northwest of Pongaroa at a depth of 5km at 4.22pm.

• Magnitude 4.4, 10km east of Amberly at a depth of 6km at 4.24pm.

• Magnitude 4.0, 10km west of Masterton at a depth of 23km at 6.27pm.

There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the 6.8M earthquake SOUTH OF THE KERMADEC ISLANDS at 4.19pm. Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the quake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand #eqnz